Subclinical laminitis in captive female Esfahan mouflon [Ovis orientalis isphahanica]: gross and light microscopic pathology

ABSTRACT

The herd consisted of 25 captive Esfahan mouflons and their offspring. The mouflons were wild and originated from their natural habitat in Esfahan province. They had been kept in small enclosures with rough concrete floors. The diet consisted of alfalfa hay, corn silage, and a commercial concentrate. The mouflons showed severe claw overgrowth and detectable subclinical form of laminitis such as sole hemorrhage and yellow wax discoloration. Both prevalences were unexpectedly high [73.9%]. The majority of foot lesion samples included in this study were taken from mouflons examined in the course of veterinary practice over a period of 4 months in a farm for clinical and histopathological purposes. Pseudocarcinomatous epidermal hyperplasia which are characterized by extreme proliferation of epithelial cells with large amounts of whorl-like structures that show no specific pattern, like dyskeratosis or central keratinization. Our findings were supportive of researchers who have suggested that subclinical laminitis is a multifactorial disease that involves a complex interaction between nutrition and management. Feeding management, proper design of facilities and routine trimming seems to prevent subclinical laminitis is predisposed for more serious lesions in Esfahan mouflons